Enwonwu’s Anyanwu sets new record

A 1962 iconic bronze sculpture Anyanwu by Prof Ben Enwonwu emerged the top sale at the 18th Arthouse Contemporary auction of modern and contemporary art held in Lagos. It was sold for N54,050,000million. The artwork thus broke a new auction record as the highest selling work of art in auction in Nigeria.

Anyanwu is a representation of the Igbo sun deity, and it is Enwonwu’s original version of the work commissioned by the National Museum, Lagos.

The auction featured 98 lots of leading masters’ works from modern period alongside cutting-edge contemporary art from the region’s most celebrated artists, and made a total of N166,156,000million sale.

Other highlights of the auction included El Anatsui’s Reflekisi, a wood panel from 2017 that sold for N16,675,000million. Enwonwu’s Ogolo, a watercolour on paper from 1989 that features a figure wearing an Ogolo mask engaged in vigorous dance movement, sold for N13,800,000million. A mixed media work by Peju Alatise, who is representing Nigeria at the Venice Biennale, sold for N5,175,000million. Ben Osawe’s Mask, a wood sculpture from 1987 that takes inspiration from ancient artifacts from Benin and Gabon, sold for N4,600,000 million.

The auction also included four charity lots in support of the Arthouse Foundation, a non-profit artist residency programme in Lagos, which raised a total of N740,000 . The proceeds from the charity lots will go to supporting the Arthouse Foundation’s yearly artist residencies.

Founded in 2007, Arthouse Contemporary is an international auction house that specialises in modern and contemporary art from West Africa. With auctions held twice yearly in Lagos, Arthouse Contemporary aims to create awareness of the scope of contemporary art in the region, encourage international recognition towards its talented artists, and strengthen the economy of its art market.

Arthouse Contemporary is supported by Kia Motors, Veuve Clicquot, and Shiro, with our official media partner The Guardian.